The Holy Grail War Blessed by the Gods

The six killing hunters rushed in and left no survivors. All the Yaga were killed, and the remaining killing hunters in the warehouse were swallowed up by the river water released by Manshu.

After sweeping everything away, Manju turned around and returned to the Yaga who had come with him.

(iv) "Unfortunately, by the time I got there, the situation was already beyond repair. Yaga, who was transporting the grain, had been killed by the killing hunters, and about 70 or 80 percent of the grain had probably been burned. Even if the rest were carried back, it would probably only last a few more days."

This news was like a bolt from the blue for these Yaga people, leaving them momentarily stunned and speechless.

After they recovered, they thanked him and continued towards the warehouse.

Although most of it was burned down, at least some of it is still usable, and we have to move that back too.

Manshu didn't help with that; he just kept watch to prevent the killing hunters from coming back and packed up the remaining people as well.

A day later, Atalanta returned, accompanied by Billy the Kid.

Well, it seems the negotiations with the other side's Servants were successful, but before they could even rejoice, Manju stepped forward to report the bad news.

"Are we running out of food...? Our rebel forces are growing faster than I anticipated, and we haven't prepared enough food..."

The border region has indeed always been severely lacking in food, because the monsters captured by the villages must be delivered to the capital first, while the capital has been consistently delaying its food supply to the border.

Under the coercion of the killing hunters, the border villages had no choice but to accept it, and the resistance army was formed as a result.

In this environment, the amount of grain that can be grown is extremely scarce, and the balance still needs to be maintained by hunting monster meat.

However, because Atalanta had no way to refuse to accept the refugees who came to the rebels, the fragile balance was quickly broken, and the food reserves could not be maintained.

"The killing hunters don't need food, which is why they prioritize the Tsar's prestige even if there are wicked women all over the country."

The development of the Russian border region to its current state is indeed influenced by the fact that the Tsar only uses elite troops to control the lands outside the capital.

However, this cannot be entirely blamed on Ivan the Terrible, since the master of this Lostbelt is still asleep.

"We're running out of food... Even if we go out hunting recklessly, we probably won't be able to keep up with our supplies. Alright, what do you plan to do?"

Manju asked Atalanta, but the question was probably unnecessary to ask, as it was obvious.

Since hunting cannot yield enough food, where can we obtain a large amount of food? The only option is to obtain it from places that have abundant food resources.

"Well, to be honest, I don't really want to use this method..."

Atalanta herself knew this perfectly well, and her eyes involuntarily looked down, but she still had to make up her mind.

“Take grain from the pro-royalist city of Smolensk. It’s neither on the border nor near the capital, and the guards of the Killing Hunters are less vigilant.”

"From my...town...!?"

Patshi's home was in Smolkylensk, and although his neighbors there weren't very kind to him, and he eventually had to flee the city in a sorry state, it was still a place he lived.

Currently, this seems to be the only way: to seize food from towns with available grain. However, this is not a good strategy.

In this way, the rebels and the thieves are probably not much different in nature, but there is really no other way now.

"I know this is a terrible strategy for the rebels, which is why I chose the most pro-monarchy city on the border. And I won't plunder all the food supplies; I'll use our army to negotiate with them and let them provide their own. However, this time they have no right to refuse. Even if they refuse and we take their food, I'll only take it, not to the point of starving..."

Atalanta explained, her expression not very pleasant.

However, the Yaga on the other side had no psychological burden at all and had already begun to criticize the Yaga in Smolensk.

"Those guys are living just as well as the people in Moscow."

"They have absolutely no self-respect as Yaga people!"

"Hey, if you were in the same position, wouldn't you do the same thing?! It's just that there was a perfect geographical environment there, and they risked their lives to build the city. Even so, you think the conditions there are great, which is why you think they're bad guys and that you can do whatever you want to them—that's the disgusting idea, isn't it?"

Patzhi, unable to tolerate this, loudly questioned him.

Are you from that town?

“I was driven out. I neither want to protect them nor do I intend to oppose their plan to plunder food. However, I am a Yaga like those guys, and I cannot forget that.”

“Patz is right. It is forbidden to endanger the safety of citizens. If anyone dares to abuse children, I will immediately turn that person into a hedgehog.”

Although Atalanta has become a monster, her pride as a hero has not disappeared; however, she is indeed willing to make some sacrifices for the sake of the children.

"In short, we can only plunder what we need! If they hate us as villains, so be it! Defeat Ivan the Terrible and wipe the Killing Hunters from this world. Only then will this Frozen Empire see the dawn. The pointer of history will move forward! Men, take up your weapons!"

At Atalanta's command, the rebels began to move out.

In order to survive, the rebels still chose to rise up out of necessity. However, for Manshu, he was happy to see this development.

Chapter Six Tula

The preparation time passed quickly, and the well-prepared rebels filed out of the fortress and headed straight for Smolensk.

"Are you ready? Our comrades have already deployed around the town. We'll first wipe out the killing hunters who have occupied the town, and then negotiate with the mayor. If the battle drags on too long, the mayor will fight to the bitter end. To demoralize them, we must finish this quickly."

Upon arriving on the outskirts of Smolensk, the rebel soldiers quickly formed ranks according to the previously agreed-upon formation.

In order to overwhelm the residents of Smolensk and force them to surrender their food supplies to save the city, the key is to quickly eliminate the armed forces within the city.

Even when a defiant stance is adopted, city residents still cling to the hope that resistance can prevent the situation from worsening.

The rebel forces advanced slowly through the snow. As they approached the Killer Hunters patrolling the outskirts of the city, the distance between them came within effective attack range, and the rebels immediately launched a surprise attack.

However, this is ultimately not one of the six cities closest to the capital Moscow. Although it is not entirely on the border, in terms of distance, it is no different from the border.

It could even be argued that the rebel strongholds were closer to Moscow in a straight line.

As for the Slaughterers who appear in the Russian Lostbelt as the Tsar's Noble Phantasms, the closer they are to the Tsar, the greater their power becomes.

If they were near the capital, Moscow, the killing hunters could reach each one possessing the power of a low-level Servant.

In this remote border region, they are quite vulnerable, and may not even be able to defeat an adult Yaga one-on-one.

After all, Yaga also possesses remarkable vitality; simple injuries are not enough to kill them, and even if their major arteries are severed, they can heal themselves.

Therefore, Manshu felt quite disappointed that the large-scale battle he had envisioned did not occur.

The unprepared Killer Hunters were quickly routed by the rebels' well-prepared surprise attack.

With the assistance of Servants on the battlefield, Atalanta is undoubtedly a ferocious monster, slaughtering the hunters with extremely high efficiency.

The proportionate boy's pistol was far superior to the firearms in the hands of those killing hunters; every shot inevitably resulted in a fallen corpse.

The eight killing hunters were quickly eliminated, and the rebel army stormed into Smolensk. The city's mayor was soon elected.

5. "You...who exactly are you...?"

7. "We are a group that harbors a rebellious will against Ivan the Terrible and his killing sergeants!"

6. Atalanta loudly proclaimed her identity, and the citizens who were watching around her all showed expressions of fear.

6. “You know that the Yaga people on the border are suffering from oppression, yet you still flatter the killing hunters and denounce the Yaga people who have escaped, don’t you?”

3. To survive, you submit to the strong. Since this is the case, as Yaga, we have no choice. But now it is time for you to pay the price; provide us with sixty percent of your stored food!

4 This is no time for politeness. Atalanta spoke to the mayor of Smolensk with an imposing manner.

4. After all, this is not a small amount. If you can't intimidate the other party with your presence and spirit, they won't agree so easily.

2. "How is that possible? More than half of them? We'll starve to death!"

"Hmph, it reeks of lies. Mayor, even if you took 70%, let alone 60%, you could still keep going, right?"

Atalanta dismissed the lie with disdain, having already thoroughly investigated the city before heading there.

After all, the goal is to ensure that what they demand is enough to satisfy their own needs, without leaving the city's residents unable to survive.

"How can it be……!"

"As long as you don't spend extravagantly."

Atalanta coldly interrupted the mayor's exclamation once again.

"Do you think you can deceive my eyes?!"

Despite being born in this harsh environment, the mayor of Smolensk has clearly escaped his dire straits, making it somewhat unrealistic to expect him to face the constant pressure from warriors who are like monsters.

Furthermore, Atalanta's side was well-prepared, rendering all of the other side's explanations meaningless.

Atalanta relentlessly pressed on with her questions, eventually breaking down the mayor of Smolensk, who could only wail and beg Atalanta to lower her demands.

The book says, “Fifty percent. Provide half the food, and I will spare the city. We don’t intend to do this regularly; we have more important things to do.”

Q Atalanta also took a slight step back, and the mayor of Smolensk hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Although the negotiations between the two sides were eventually completed, the hatred between the citizens of Smolensk and the rebels was clearly evident.

Both sides stared at each other with hostility in their eyes, but under restraint, it was limited to smacking their lips and spitting.

With Atalanta and Billy the Kid around, Yaga's actions can still be restrained, since they will obey the words of the strong.

(8) "It's the Killer Hunters! The Killer Hunters are here!"

(v) Suddenly, Yaga shouted loudly from afar. From the other side of the city, a large group of killing hunters was rushing towards the city.

(vii) "Is it reinforcements...!?"

(vi) Atalanta looked up to observe the newly appeared group of killing hunters, while the rebel soldiers beside her hurriedly picked up their weapons to prepare for battle.

(vi) "Ready...prepare for battle! All hands on deck, raise your guns!"

(iii) Atalanta repeatedly scolded them: "Who said we were going to take up arms and fight? Get to the food!"

(iv) "Great! The Tsar really didn't abandon us! Rebels, are you terrified? Those are killing hunters! You will all be wiped out!"

(iv) The mayor of Smolensk, who was still there, shouted excitedly, while Atalanta looked at the mayor as if he were a fool.

(ii) "Are you an idiot? Don't you understand what's going on? You're being attacked from both sides!"

"……Why?"

The killing hunters don't care whether those blocking their way are rebels or ordinary citizens.

All they had to do was maintain the Tsar's rule and authority, so killing them all would be of no consequence.

The rebel soldiers who were carrying grain were on the other side, and the city's residents were clearly caught in the middle.

Therefore, this is not good news for the citizens here, who are caught in the middle between the killing hunters and the rebels, and they will not benefit from either side.

"This is the worst time; a massacre is likely about to begin. Although neither side wants to cause damage, both sides will suffer the greatest possible losses."

"What should we do now!?"

Hearing Holmes say that, Fujimaru Ritsuka was a little flustered.

"Leave it to me. I've been bored for so many days, finally I have something to do. But such a small number of killing hunters is nothing to worry about."